Sozin's Comet raged over the horizon while Katara and I flew towards our destiny. I sat to the left of her as she flew the bison, trying my best to mask my jaw and fist clenching. Azula was my sister, and though I did not want to fight her deep down I at least knew her. She'd be a worthy opponent but predictable after years of being at the other end of her bending. She was calculating, and you could always anticipate her next move with the tick of her brow or twitch in her smirk. No, I was not worried about Azula.

"I'm worried about Aang," I responded to Katara. "What if he loses?"

Katara steeled her expression and her blue eyes bore into mine, now more icy grey with the contrast of the orange sky. "Aang won't lose."

I tried not to let my fears of what this comet brought get the best of me. The Fire Lord intended to wipe out the Earth Kingdom with its power. My mother has not been seen or spoken of in many years. It was likely that she fled to the Earth Kingdom after her banishment. Possibly a small providence where some still had allegiance to Avatar Roku, my great-grandfather. Ideally, with that connection, someone would've granted her refuge and secrecy so that she could live peacefully away from my father's tyranny. If he succeeds in harnessing the comet there would be no escape for her now. Or maybe in the wake of disaster, she came back home? I shook the thought from my head and focused on the amber sea of clouds above me.

We flew through the outskirts of the castle I once called home. The stone towers shone like rust, and the gates were swung wide open inviting the banished prince home. The only greeting he seemed to receive, the streets and corridors were empty.

"Where is everyone?" She asked with her hand over her pouch, unwavering.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

Today was supposed to be Azula's coronation. Ozai rose as the Phoenix King, and Azula was to be the Fire Lord. The gates were open to invite spectators in, but the castle was silent. Not even a guard at the post to protect the princess on her special day. Were they all banished, or was the nation even more afraid of Azula's tyrannical rule than his father's?

They could hear the Fire Sages begin the coronation from above where Zuko spotted them on Appa.

"Are you ready?" Zuko asked Katara.

Her eyes showed determination but behind them, there was a hint of something else she did not show that often anymore. Not since Aang fell in Ba Sing Se. Fear.

"I don't want to lose…" Her voice trailed off with everything that could possibly fill the blank. This war, their future, the avatar, her loved ones, him. No, Zuko did not want to lose either.

"We won't," He said looking at her trying to convey as much confidence as possible. She was everything worth fighting for. They will not lose.

The Sages faltered at the sight of the bison and Azula glanced back at their hesitation.

"What are you waiting for? Do it!" Azula commanded.

Appa finally lands in the castle walls feet away from the base of the stairs.

"Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today."

Azula laughed and as expected, quickly dismissed the notion. What was not expected was her appearance. Azula was the Princess of the Fire Nation. She was the pinnacle of perfection. The prodigy, the pride of the nation, but at the altar stood… a mess. Her always-perfect hair was askew and cut into jagged bangs, her manicured nails were chipped from biting, her blood-red lips were smeared at the corners, her eyes were baggy and puffy, and her tailored robes hung looser than before.

People believed that Azula thrived under pressure, but I knew better. She survived under it. She had no other option other than perfection when faced with any obstacle. The fear of failure was her demise and source of control. Now with Fire Lord looming over her head, and her father, the Phoenix King, posed to forever impose that fear onto her, the perfect prodigy princess was visibly cracking under the pressure.

Katara defended Appa ready to face the worst of her with me, "You're going down."

Azula took one crazed look at Katara. The two were true counterparts. Master's in their bending, groomed by two different forms of pressure. Fear, and hope. Attempting to take down us both would be a challenge. She gambled that in Ba Sing Se. If I hadn't broken Katara's water whips, she would've had her. They both know it.

"The showdown that was always meant to be, Agni Kai!" Azula proclaimed, quickly eliminating Katara from the equation.

"You're on," I responded with no hesitation.

Katara out of the battle honored the agreement I had with Sokka. I could keep her safe from Azula's unhinged wrath and focus on besting her without the fear of Katara coming into harm's way. Agni Kai is a highly honored battle, there would be no interference and no foul play on anyone who was not in the one-on-one fight. Azula knew better than to jeopardize that honor in front of the Fire Sages. She would lose all respect in the eyes of the Fire Nation, and potentially all respect of our Father. She should know better than to do anything out of turn.

"What're you doing?" Katara hissed into my ear. I knew she wouldn't take an Agni Kai lightly, not after what she just admitted.

"There's something off about her," I explained to Katara, "I can't explain it, but she's slipping."

I watched Azula's crazed smile dance between Katara and I's conversation while she waited for us to begin. I couldn't tell if she was just amused by our dynamic or analyzing it for bait. I'm going to have to keep my eyes on her, she's not in her right mind.

"And this way, no one else has to get hurt." I finally turned my head to look at Katara. My decision was final, and she knew she needed to stay out of the way.

I crouched on the other end of the battlefield breathing in the comet, letting it strengthen me. It truly felt like a thousand suns. The surface of my skin felt tender like a light sunburn, and sweat seemed to sizzle off my skin. My breath felt deeper, and my chest fought to expand broader with every intake of air. My chi moved through my body with a wild frenzy, I felt extremely alert, energized, and overstimulated all at once. Everything about me was ablaze, and I knew Azula felt the same.

We rose from our positions and she discarded her robe with a sickly wicked motion and mirrored it in her bending stance.

"I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother," she sang manically from her end.

"No, you're not," I responded, but just maybe, today, she really was.

Blue and orange clashed and the heat broke out as wide as the battlefield. Agni, no bender should have this much power. No comet should grant this kind of ability to one mere person, let alone the Fire Lord. It was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. For a moment, Zuko questioned how his perception of power would change once he became Fire Lord, but he squashed the thought and focused on the onslaught of flames he was blocking.

Spirits, they were going to burn the castle to the ground before either of them could rule in it. Azula was panting and exhorting herself far faster than usual. The war within her ate at her resolve and the comet was burning through her rapidly. She was a time bomb. Zuko managed to knock her off of her fire-skate, and the princess rolled to the ground groaning.

She rose from the ground panting with her hair no longer contained in the messy bun. The ribbon likely burned to ashes during the battle. Zuko was winning this battle, one more push and he might have her. So he pushed.

"No lightning today?" He yelled across the battlefield.

Her face grimaced at her brother, fueled by her rage at being bested. She was probably wondering why the Fire Sages hadn't just gone on with it and plopped that hunk of gold into her hair when they had the chance. Azula always hated delays.

"Oh, I'll show you lightning!" She bellowed and her body moved in a way that was akin to Katara's blood bending. Azula wasn't in her right mind or body.

Blue lightning contrasted the molten sky lighting everything in its wake. Including Katara standing feet behind me, suddenly on the battlefield. She must've run from her spot at the first crack of electricity. The last time she saw Azula bend lightning, she had struck down the avatar with only her spirit water to save him. Unfortunately, Katara was fresh out of oasis water. She was determined to not let his sister get the chance.

Zuko was posed and ready for the blast. He wasn't sure if his body was able to take a comet-charged blast like hers but he was willing to try. He was betting his all on sending this hit back to her and ending this Agni Kai once and for all. He swore he'd banish the practice once he took the throne. Before he could finish his thought he saw Azula's eyes cut to the right of him. Katara.

Azula acquired her target with a smirk and lightning flew from her fingertips. Zuko's nightmare flashed before his eyes and before his heart could thunder another beat he was running in front of the blast. She would not be able to take the hit, she was not a fire bender, she was completely off guard, and Zuko had a promise to keep.

"Noo!" The scream ripped through his throat as he took the lightning straight to his chest.

Katara POV:

Katara sat on the sidelines watching the siblings duel with bated breath. Zuko was winning, but Azula could not be trusted. She was willing to change the rules of the game at a moment's notice, and she was not going to let this power-crazed princess ruin her future with Zuko. She was standing in her potential future castle. Not exactly how she planned her first visit but it was a beautiful home. The stone castle under the sky shone in various shades of rust and rose and there was plenty of room for her family to stay and visit. Today would mark the might of the new era for the Fire Nation and though she was not a part of the battle, she was glad that she was here for this part of history. This part of their story.

As much as Katara was the emotional one, Zuko was objectively the most passionate between the two of them. When it came to matters of diplomacy and their roles she was usually the stoic one, she relied on logic and what would be best given the evidence. Zuko strived for results and displays of will. When she suggested that it may be best that they keep their relationship a secret for a while after the war, he protested.

"There will not be a day that I do not want you by my side," He proclaimed. "World's comfortability be damned. You are my world, you are my peace."

And he was hers, but she could not be selfish with Zuko. The world needed him more than it needed her, or at least that's what she thought moments before Azula conjured lightning. Katara raced out of her spot and to his side because she needed him too. He was her world, he was her peace… They just might be each other's downfalls.

Katara stood in shock while blue light rippled across the scene in front of her. Her once greatest enemy, now turned greatest love, was soaring through the air taking a lightning bolt for her, and there was nothing she could do.

Zuko's body hit the ground with the energy still crackling around him as he twitched and moaned through the pain. From a distance, she could see his teeth were grit and he was clutching his chest fighting electric shockwaves. He was alive, but barely.

"Zuko!" Fear moved her body towards him, she had to heal him, and he had to be okay.

Azula cracked lightning in her path evilly cackling. The sadistic bitch had no heart, she wouldn't even save her own brother. If only it were a full moon.

In the distance, she could see Zuko reaching for her, but Azula was hot on her tail. She was jumping, flipping, and leaping to stay ahead of Azula's onslaught. The worst of it all was that it was too damn hot. The air was dry and sweltering and there wasn't a plant in sight. She needed a real source of water and fast.

The wells on the battlefield were too open, Azula had already pushed her under a corridor with her lightning, keeping her as far away from Zuko as possible. She raged comfortably on the roof, enjoying her display of might. By the time I got a chance to use the well, she was off the roof and coming at her fast with fire fists and feet.

I really loathe this bitch.

I evaded her attacks before crashing atop metal grates. Water. Perfect. Now to lure the princess in.

I grabbed the chains hanging on the wall just in the nick of time and hid them behind me. The princess didn't even seem to notice.

"There you are you filthy peasant," Azula sneered.

Katara stood just before the grates giving Azula ample space to come forward. She had her, arrogant bitch didn't even look down. I sent a light attack of water whips that I knew she would evade and just like I planned she came straight to me. I snuck the chain out from behind my back and encased us in water with her finger a centimeter from my face.

Releasing the breath I was holding, wrapped the chains behind her back and tied her to the ground. I had successfully put the perfect prodigy princess on her knees. We were both coughing and gasping the water out of our lungs but she could've choked on her own spit for all I care. I tightened the chains and ran straight for Zuko.

He was still on the ground groaning but appeared to have at least stopped straining to get up once he saw Azula was subdued. He smiled at me limply and let me flip him onto his back. I covered my hands in water and placed them over his chest. The scar was nearly star-shaped and was beginning to blister from the burned flesh. Thank Agni for this comet. I could feel his chi moving rapidly through him and if it wasn't for that quickly expelling whatever electric energy it could, he would've been gone. I choked away the thought and focused on healing the stunned organs, saving the scar tissue for last. The heat underneath his skin dissipated and his lungs took in a healthy breath of air.

"Thank you, Katara," he smiled weakly at me.

I couldn't help the tears that began to stream down my face, "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."

I pulled him into the sitting position and I let my gloved hand caress his face before sneaking in a quick kiss. I didn't want to strain him. Behind us, we could hear his sister hyperventilating. She was livid that Zuko survived, it must be dawning on her that she won't become Fire Lord today, even by default.

The princess wailed and sobbed blue fire, and a wave of sympathy struck the two victors. Azula was a child of war, just like the two of them. She was alone. Royal and feared with no real sense of safety, compassion, or love. Out of all the people they've met along the way through this journey, it looks like Azula truly lost the most in order to survive.

"We'll get her help," I said to Zuko after a moment of reflection.

"I hope she can be helped," He replied solemnly.

Zuko POV:

A week has passed since the end of the war and since my short residence back home there have been two blatant assassination attempts, one poisoning, three protests, and two meetings with the council regarding the legitimacy of my role on the throne. Katara had been beside me the entire time. She froze the assassins in their tracks, separated the poison from the tea, calmed the protests with her words, and spoke on my behalf and the world's at my meetings. She was the perfect partner, but it was clear how the world and my nation felt about me at the present, and I couldn't put her in that kind of danger.

So she was right, we would be best as a secret for now.

Aang found out about our relationship shortly after the Agni Kai. When he arrived at the castle after defeating Ozai he was eager to hear how everyone else faired in their share of destiny. Katara could hardly get through her words she was sobbing too hard and in that moment, Aang knew she did not love him. He sulked for a minute and let his eyes dance between the two of us while her gaze pleaded with him to understand.

"If you were in my position you wouldn't be able to do what I did," I told him later. "You are not able to risk your safety for one person, and yes the world may still need me as a Fire Lord, but they don't need me to maintain balance. She deserves someone who can die for her."

So he let her go, but agreed to be a part of the farce that she was his and not mine while she remained in the castle as a "Water Tribe/Healing and Medicine Ambassador." Mai would again take up the role of my girlfriend for no more than a few months. The distance of the relationship would break up her and the Avatar, demands of the nation would be a rift between Mai and me, and then after a few months waiting period sneaking and growing on our people, we would be us again. Now to show the world who we are.

Katara was in the crowd of people waiting for my coronation. I fought the pang in my chest that felt like it was missing the chance to see both of us crowned today. Leading the future as one in a quest for growth, healing, and harmony. But at least I had the Avatar on my side.

"I can't believe a year ago my purpose in life was hunting you down…" I began.

"And now we're friends," Aang concluded.

He was in his traditional monk attire, complete with Gyatso's necklace. To think that this boy led him to his true purpose, meeting her. Aang led him to Katara, and Katara led him to open his heart, face his fears, dismiss his prejudices, see the world, and see beyond the tyrannical might of the Fire Nation. My greatest threat became my greatest desire, then my greatest purpose. That blue beam of light led me to her eyes and in them, I saw my future.

"I can't believe a year ago I was still frozen in a block of ice," Aang mused.

I smiled warmly at the thought of Katara. "We wouldn't even be here today without her, huh?"

"Destiny works in funny ways," Aang said. "The spirits sent her to find me, and then they sent you to find her. The sun and moon have chased each other for centuries."

"Let's hope we won't have to chase each other much longer."

Thank you all so much for reading this story! We have come to an end and I've got a few more ideas I'd like to get on paper with this fandom. I hope I catch you all on the next one!

-xo